An Anatomy of Happiness

by Adam Staten

In an era when life is safer and more comfortable than ever before feelings of unhappiness, depression and anxiety pervade our society. An Anatomy of Happiness is an exploration of the latest research about what makes us happy and what makes us despair. It draws on the literature from medicine, neuroscience, anthropology, economics and psychology to explain the social, psychological and biological basis of this elusive emotion.

By revealing the key factors that underpin our happiness this varied and intriguing body of research is beginning to shine a light on the path to attaining long standing mental well-being and escaping the clutches of depression. Along the way an Anatomy of Happiness reveals why Facebook makes us jealous, why being generous makes us feel good, and the exciting new ways in which an unhappy mind can be trained to be happy.